1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Assistant Secretary U.S. Department Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation Office of the Secretary April 14,,2010 ofTransportation



### The Honorable Paul Natale Mayor ofComm.erce City Commerce City, CO 80022 DearMayorNatale: Thapk you for your letter ofMarch 8 supporting the application for antitrust immunity filed by AllNippon Airways, United Air Lines, and Continental Airlines. lam 

### responding on behalfof Secretary LaHood. As you may know, the applicants-members ofthe Star Alliance-are seeking antitrust immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to the application, the alliance partners plan to launch ajointventure for conveyance oftranspacific traffic. The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the

.opportunity to**comment~** 

### The U.s. Department ofTransportation (DOT) will evaluate the application according to rigorous statutory standards, beginning with a review ofthe record to determine ifit is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation with the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of

. competitive factors. As this matter is now pending,! hope you understand that I cannot comment on the merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however, that DOT will givefull and fair considerationto the application as well as any comments filed in the docket. As is our normal practice, I am 

### placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT·OST·2010-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interestin this prooeeding.

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

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### Commerce 

# CITY S] 0-1 00322-()()8

March 8,2010 The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood Secretary United States Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.B. Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary LaHood: On behalf of the City of Commerce City, this letter is in support of a ,grant of antitrust immunity (ATI) filed by United Airlines,Continental and All Nippon Airways (ANA) with the 

### U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT). DOT approval would provide travelers and businesses with a variety of benefits, including lower fares on more routes, increased services, better schedules and reduced travel and conriection times. Granting 'antitrust immunity will facilitate the,·

# implem~t1~~ti()11 of a new U.S-Japan Open Skies agreement. As you are aware, until DOT approves the ATI request, the Open Skies agreement will not be activated. Open Skies with Japan is an enormous achievement and is designed toboostairHne competition and lower fares for consumers. Once,this important application 

### is approved, Open Skies 

### will increase travel choices and enhance competition, resulting in greate!" benefits to carriers and their customers. I applaud you for bringing**togeth~r indi,,~quals**  from ,the**~viation** industry,'

## as Vv,eV.as other interested parties, to undertake 

### ail open and serio,us discussion about competition in aviation

.

.J.: "f " ,: ) t • , • , . Antitrust 

## iln'mlulitY'·will**t'ns~re'U.S.** and foreign airlines. have,' the opportunity to compete freely

.. In this challenging, 'economic environment, 'our'· airlines need to pursue all opportunities to**allo~** 

### thel);i and the businesses within th«{communlties they serve to stay competitive 

### in an**i!l,Cl;~~irigly)** g!pbal marketp1ace. In CommerceCity, Colorado, the airline industry isa**,va,ua.b~e:: re~,Oi.i~e**  f<?r our community. We reCognize and welcome the significant**ec~)D~mic,** iq;pact"an,d growth opportunities that approval of this application presents.
. . '.," ,.., We thank 

# you for your work to achieve the U.S.-Japan Open Skies

# a~ee~ent,~nd look forward to your approval ofthe pending application. Sincerely,

# ~ Mayor PaulNataJe . ; .,'

cc: JerrY Flannery. 

### City M,anager The HononibleMichael Bennet The

### HonorableMik~Coffman**~.** 

## The**Hono:rabt~D\~m~**

## OeGette , ; The Honorable'Qoug

### ltamb()rn The aonorable Betsy:Mwkey The'ilonorable Ed Pertmutter The Honorable Jared Polis The HC)ll'oiableJoffi'(Saiazal i"

.

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## .. '
7887 East 60th Avenue, Commerce City, CO 80022 Tel: (303) 289·3620 Fax: (303) 289·,3688